Flashlight switch



Oct. 24, 1944. J. ZlMMER 2,361,359

FLASHLIGHT SWITCH Filed Aug. 1, 1941 MYRON J. ZIMMER INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 24, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ,FLASHLIGHT SWITCH Myron J. Zimmer, Wood Dale, Ill assignor to The Edward Katzinger Company, Chicago, 111.,

a corporation of- Illinois 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a flashlight switch and more particularly to a fastening such as used to attach a. slide on the exterior of a flashlight case and a conducting circuit closing member or strip within the case and connected with said slide for movement in unison therewith.

This invention consists of a novel connection between the slide and the circuit closing member without the use of separate fastening means, and of such design and construction as to absorb looseness without the use of separate devices.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be apparent, this invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a flashlight embodying a switch construction according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar View but taken axially at right angles on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken online 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an inner face view of the switch operating member contemplated by this invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the conductive circuit closing member cooperating with the operating member shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a View of the member shown in Fig. 5 but turned through an angle of 90 degrees relative to the position thereof as shown in Fig. 5.

Reference being had more particularly to the drawing, IO- represents a tubular flashlight casing of conductive material, such as metal. The switch contemplated by the present invention comprises an operating member H in the form of a finger piece having a peripheral flange [2, part of which at each side of the finger piece is slit and bent angularly to provide a pair of opposed guiding arms I3 which extend through suitable apertures 14 in the wall of the case. The arms [3 have inturned ends adapted to be passed through said apertures and occupy a position at .some distance inwardly from the inner surface clearance provided between the ends l5, of the arms I3 and the inner surface of the case I0; opposite thereto while the width of the shank is such that the inner surfaces of the arms [3 slid,- ably guide the longitudinal edges o-f the shank to permit entrance of the shank therebetweenby movement in a path lengthwise thereof. Such movement of the shank H from an entering po sition to an advanced position is limitedby the abutment of aligned stops or shoulders l8 at the inner end of the shank I! with the edges of the arms l3. Owing to the length of the extension or shank IT, a portion thereof will; project beyond the outlet end of the arms [3 and the ends I-5. when said shoulder I8 is in such engagement with the arms 13. lhe portion of the shank thus projecting beyond the arms l3 and ends I5 is slit longitudinally as at H) to provide a pair of aligned tongues 20 normally sprung outwardly. from the. surface of the shank ll facing the ends l5 andpresenting transverse edges 2| which engage the edges of the ends l5 at the outlet side thereof to prevent withdrawal of the extension or shank; llwhen the shoulder 18' is in; engagement with the edges of the arms 13 at the inlet or entranceside thereof. The resiliency of the tongues 20; permits them to be pressed, inwardly toward the plane of the shank during their passage through the space defined by the arms. l3, ends I5 and in,-v ner surface of the case l0. whereupon the tongues 20, on reaching a position clear of theO ltlet edge of the ends I5. will spring outwardly and snap into engagement with the edge of the ends l5; to lock the shank ll against withdrawal from thearms [3.

The foregoing construction is such that the;

parts of the switch can be readily assembled; where access to the case is. limited to the front. end thereof as the shank I! can be readilypushed into the space between the arms [3 and the ends l5 and: the inner surface of the case ill, from the mouth of the case. Furthermore, the limited clearance between the ends [5. and thein-ner sur, face of the case provides a pair of opposed sur-. faces coacting with the faces of the shank. IT to exert a strong binding influence thereagainst which obviates the necessity for using separate holding or binding devices.

If desired a longitudinal reinforcing rib 22 may be provided in the member I 6.

In the example shown, the contact member I6 is adapted to engage at the forward end 25 thereof with a reflector 26 disposed adjacent to the front end of the case and surrounding an electric lamp 21, the circuit through said lamp being closed when the member 16 is in engagement with the reflector. The source of electric current for the lamp is available, for instance, from one or more dry battery cells 28 adapted to make contact at one end thereof with the rear tip of the lamp under the action of a helical sprin 29 interposed between the closed or capped end of the case and the other end of the battery. With such an arrangement the circuit can take place by way of the rear tip of the lamp 21, the battery terminal, the spring 16, the case NJ, the operating member 2, the strip IS, the reflector 26 and thence to the side terminal of the lamp 2?.

If desired, the shank ll may be provided with a recess or hole 23 engageable with a dimple or projection 24 formed in the case If) to yieldably lock the member IS in retracted position relative to the reflector 26.

While certain features of the present invention are more or less specifically illustrated, it is to be understood that various changes in form and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims; similarly, that the materials of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate or various uses may demand.

What is claimed is:

1. A switch assembly for a flashlight comprising a flashlight case having a wall portion provided with guide slots, a bearing surface on the inner side of said wall portion intermediate said slots, an operating member mounted externally of the case and overlapping a portion of the outer side of said wall portion adjacent said slots, a pair of spaced arms carried by said operating member receivable in said slots for projection inwardly beyond said bearing surface and slidable lengthwise of said slots, means interposed between said arms providing a second bearing surface opposite to and spaced from said bearing surface on the inner side of the wall portion intermediate said slots, a contact member comprising a strip having an end portion of a dimen-" sion corresponding to the clearance between said bearing surfaces and movable in the direction of its length between said arms from an entering position to an advanced position wherein the leading part of said end portion overhangs the transverse limits of said second bearing surface, said leading part of said end portion having a resilient member carried thereby which normally projects outwardly from the surface of the strip and yields inwardly by engagement with one of said bearing surfaces to accommodate movement of said end portion from an entering position to an advanced position as aforesaid, and means on one of said arms coacting with said resilient member for preventing movement of said end portion away from advanced position.

2. A switch assembly for a flashlight as claimed in claim 1 wherein the width of the end portion is such that the inner surfaces of the arms are slidably engaged by the longitudinal edges of the end portion incident to movement thereof toward its advanced position.

3. LA switch assembly for a flashlight comprising a flashlight case having a wall portion provided with guide slots, a bearing surface in the inner side of said wall portion intermediate said slots, an operating member mounted externally of the case and overlapping a portion of the outer side of said wall portion adjacent said slots, a pair of spaced arms carried by said bearing member receivable in said slots for projection inwardly beyond said bearing surface and slidable lengthwise of said slots, means formed integrally with the projecting ends of said arms providing a second bearing surface between said arms opposite to and spaced from said bearing surface on the inner side of the wall portion intermediate said slots, a contact member comprising a strip having an end portion of a dimension corresponding to the clearance between said bearing surfaces and movable in the direction of its length between said arms from an entering position to an advanced position wherein the leading part of said end portion overhangs the transverse limits of said second bearing surface, said leading part of said end portion having a resilient member carried thereby which normally projects outwardly from the surface of the strip and yields inwardly by engagement with one of said bearing surfaces to accommodate movement of said end portion from an entering position to an advanced position as aforesaid, and means on one of said arms coactlng with said resilient member for preventing movement of said end portion away from advanced position,

4. A switch assembly for a flashlight comprising a flashlight case having a wall portion provided with guide slots, a bearing surface on the inner side of said wall portion intermediate said slots, an operating member mounted externally of the case and overlapping a portion of the outer side of said wall portion adjacent said slots, a pair of spaced arms carried by said operating member receivable in said slots for projection inwardly beyond said bearing surface and slidable lengthwise of said slots, means interposed between said arms providing a second bearing surface opposite to and spaced from said bearing surface on the inner side of the wall portion intermediate said slots, a contact member comprising a strip having an end portion of a dimension corresponding to the clearance between said bearing surfaces and movable in the direction of its length between said arms, stop means on said member for engagement with said arms to position the end portion aforesaid in predetermined overhanging relation to the end of said second bearing surface, said overhanging end portion of the contact member being sheared to provide a tongue normally projecting outwardly from the surface of the member for engagement with the adjacent end of said second bearing surface, whereby said member is secured against movement away from said position.

MYRON J. ZIMMIER. 

